Ireland stuck between a ruck and a hard place
Mon, Mar 17, 2008ANALYSIS: Time waits for no team, and by getting bogged down in tackles and rucks the Irish allowed England organise the defence at their leisure
Ragged defeat the ultimate pay-off
Mon, Mar 17, 2008RUGBY: THE LAST throes of the Eddie O'Sullivan era are expected to be completed within the next few weeks as the key committees in the IRFU come to grips with a sustained decline that culminated in an increasingly ragged 33-10 defeat to England on Saturday.
Fields all choked at end of era
Mon, Mar 17, 2008England 33 Ireland 10: EVEN SWING low didn't carry the echoes of past hammerings hereabouts but, as it reverberated around the ground in the 51st minute, the Irish supporters cleared their throats and unleashed the day's one rendition of The Fields. With their team 16-10 adrift, it would prove to be one last, defiant gesture, for thereafter the supporters in green had nothing to sing about. p
'We have to believe in ourselves' - O'Gara
Mon, Mar 17, 2008IRELAND V ENGLAND REACTION: THERE WAS a familiar theme running through Irish post-match observations at Twickenham. It is hard to quantify the confidence required for teams to perform to their potential but there's no doubting the Irish players view it as a central issue in their 33-10 defeat to England.
Lack of confidence highlighted
Mon, Mar 17, 2008IRELAND V ENGLAND PLAYER QUOTES: ANDREW TRIMBLE, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald walked towards the television cameras, microphones and notebooks a little over an hour after Ireland's Six Nations ambitions had unravelled one final time. The three youngest members of the Ireland team thumped at Twickenham were invited to hypothesise about the continuing malaise that afflicts the national team.
Welsh complete the metamorphosis
Mon, Mar 17, 2008Wales 29 France 12: WALES WERE pushovers last year, but if one moment highlighted the difference the head coach Warren Gatland has made this year it was not the opportunism of Shane Williams for the opening try, the unyielding blitz defence introduced by Shaun Edwards or the refined kicking game that left France with plenty of ball but nowhere to run, but an attacking scrum Les Bleus had 15 minutes from the end when they were 10 points down. p
Hadden retains high hopes for the future
Mon, Mar 17, 2008Italy 23 Scotland 20: FRANK HADDEN almost quit his job after last year's World Cup, but despite enduring a torrid Six Nations campaign Scotland's coach insists he no longer harbours such thoughts. After a desperate defeat in Rome, Hadden confirmed he will stay on at least until the end of the tour to Argentina this summer. p
O'Sullivan to meet IRFU over future
Sun, Mar 16, 2008Eddie O'Sullivan's inevitable departure will dominate proceedings when the IRFU meet their stricken coach to discuss a dismal Six Nations campaign.
Wales sweep the board
Sat, Mar 15, 2008Wales 29 France 12 : Wales were crowned Grand Slam champions for the second time in four seasons as the records tumbled on an historic evening at the Millennium Stadium.
O'Sullivan considering his future
Sat, Mar 15, 2008Eddie O'Sullivan's tenure as Ireland coach appears to be nearing a conclusion following today's comprehensive defeat at Twickenham.
Cipriani cuts a dash as Ireland routed
Sat, Mar 15, 2008England 33 Ireland 10 : Just over a week after being cut adrift by the English coach following a nightclub incident, Danny Cipriani had all the right moves against Ireland as he condemned Eddie O'Sullivan's side to their third defeat of the campaign.
Italy get their just desserts
Sat, Mar 15, 2008Italy 23 Scotland 20 : Andrea Marcato scored a last-minute drop goal to hand Italy a narrow win over Scotland in their final Six Nations match.
England at home appear to have edge
Sat, Mar 15, 2008RUGBY: AS ONE wag observed during the week, this could be the first game in the Six Nations where both sets of fans will be cheering for the opposition in order to be rid of their respective coaches. But come kick-off at England's headquarters this afternoon, nothing could be further from the truth. This is England v Ireland after all. Nuff said.
Let's use Twickenham's width and O'Gara's wisdom
Sat, Mar 15, 2008Against a big and brave but limited England team the Irish need to shed the defensive mindset of last week and get out of the trenches, writes Liam Toland
Looking comfortable with fifteen
Sat, Mar 15, 2008ENGLAND V IRELAND: Rob Kearney has the skills, flair and confidence to carve out a serious career at fullback for Ireland , writes Gerry Thornley
Jinking run to a place in the pantheon
Sat, Mar 15, 2008WALES V FRANCE: Shane Williams has used his speed and agility to prosper in a game more and more in thrall to bulk and power, writes Paul Rees
Hook facing his defining hour
Sat, Mar 15, 2008WARREN GATLAND admits outhalf star James Hook faces "the biggest game of his career" when Wales go for Grand Slam glory in Cardiff today. Hook has been charged with pulling the strings as Wales target a second RBS Six Nations title and tournament clean sweep in four seasons.
Southwell aims to build platform for attacking game
Sat, Mar 15, 2008ITALY V SCOTLAND: HUGO SOUTHWELL is certain Scotland have not lost sight of reality after the heady excitement of last weekend's unexpected Calcutta Cup triumph. The Scottish squad have spent a lot of time this week talking about their desire to show greater attacking flair in their final Six Nations game of the season against Italy today after only managing one try in their previous four matches. However, fullback Southwell insists the players must be able to walk before they can run.
England secure Grand Slam
Sat, Mar 15, 2008UNDER-20 REPORT/England 43 Ireland 14: ENGLAND SECURED the Under-20 Grand Slam at Kingsholm last night with a comprehensive seven-try victory over Ireland.
Shanklin eyes only the Grand Slam
Thu, Mar 13, 2008Tom Shanklin insists lifting the Six Nations title will be scant consolation if Wales cannot do it by claiming a second Grand Slam in four years.
Elwood opts for change at 10
Thu, Mar 13, 2008Ireland under-20 coach Eric Elwood has opted for a change at outhalf ahead of the final Six Nations game against England in Gloucester.
Nobody bounced for dead rubber
Wed, Mar 12, 2008SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP/ENGLAND v IRELAND: IN KEEPING with the selection strategy of his tenure, Eddie O'Sullivan's response to Ireland's hugely disappointing performance against Wales was not to throw caution to the wind with a raft of experiments for this Saturday's somewhat anti-climactic finale to the RBS Six Nations against England in Twickenham.
O'Gara all energy as captain's run looms
Wed, Mar 12, 2008RONAN O'GARA'S first stint as captain of a rugby team was with the Cork Con under-12s. He tells the story with a straight face and with that "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth" look. He tells us that back then as captain of the Cork Con tots he, along with Peter Stringer, stormed the Continent and won the European under-12 Cup in France under Fred Casey.
One golden boy for another as Cipriani starts
Wed, Mar 12, 2008NO SELECTION was going to flag England's strategy against Ireland more than that of Brian Ashton's choice at outhalf. In the event, it is the only change from the team which lost limply to Scotland last Saturday, as the much trumpeted 20-year-old star of the future, Danny Cipriani, replaces the most celebrated English rugby player of modern times, one Jonny Wilkinson.
Gatland gives Hook the nod
Tue, Mar 11, 2008Six Nations Team News: James Hook has been given the responsibility of guiding Wales to Grand Slam glory after reclaiming the outhalf jersey for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations showdown with France in Cardiff.
Danielli and Thomson to start
Fri, Mar 14, 2008Scotland coach Frank Hadden has made two injury- enforced changes for Saturday's final Six Nations match against Italy in Rome.
O'Driscoll to miss just a month
Tue, Mar 11, 2008RUGBY: IT WAS confirmed yesterday that Brian O'Driscoll will miss the rest of the Six Nations Championship, although his hamstring injury is not as severe as previously thought. There is just one match remaining against England in Twickenham on Saturday.
